I'm afraid of heights, so this was far outside of my comfort zone! Brodi was our pilot and was awesome, he loves his job and it shows. Very informative & talented pilot. Flying with him was like flying with a friend, relaxed and easy! Thanks so much for an amazing experience :)
I had the pleasure of taking a Kauai tour with Blue Hawaiian. We initially hit a weather snag, and the trip was efficiently rescheduled for a different day. The company uses the newer Eco-Star helicopter, which was very comfortable to ride in. I was lucky, and drew the straw for the right front seat. I could easily see forward, down (a little intimidating), up, and to the right. My wife and daughter, sat in the back of the helicopter and their views were not quite as good. This helicopter had two way radio, so we could speak to the pilot. The ride was more sporty than I expected, not docile like commercial air travel. We went into steep canyons and banked hard. Quite a ride! This is a one of a kind experience. We especially loved the end, where you hover in an old volcano crater and there are skinny waterfalls flowing down the vertical walls all around you- disappearing into the clouds above you. If you are motion sensitive, take some Dramamine. Unfortunately (for everyone), I found out that my daughter needs this for helicopter rides. I recommend doing this early in your trip- it will orient the entire island for you and help you pick your activities. We went first thing in the morning, when clouds tended to be sparsest.
We have taken flights with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters in Kauai and the Big Island. Both were fantastic! i would highly recommend any flight with them in Hawaii. It's a great way to see places you might not see otherwise. Their customer service, ground crew and pilots are superior! We booked a couple of months in advance online. Fellow cruise passengers were still able to get a reservation the day before we arrived in Kauai.
On our last trip to Hawaii, my husband and I took a helicopter tour with Blue Hawaiian around Maui. It was our first ever helicopter tour and we loved it! This trip we were heading to Kauai for the first time, so we decided to book the Kauai Eco Adventure tour for our very first morning on the island. Finding the heliport using GPS was very easy and ample free parking is available right outside the doors. Our tour time was at 10am but we were asked to check-in at 9:15am. Those forty-five minutes went by fast, however, as we were checked in and discreetly weighed and then left to roam around the area for a few minutes. At 9:30am, all groups on the 10am tour (they had three separate helicopters running that morning) watched a safety video and were given a safety briefing. After that, we were given our helicopter and seat assignments and then whisked outside to wait to the arrival of our helicopter. Once on board, the climate was very comfortable and our pilot was extremely friendly and confident (an ex-military pilot). From there, we embarked on a fifty minute tour that encompassed the whole island from the area surrounding the airport, to Waimea Canyon to the Na Pali Coast. Along the way the pilot provided interesting facts and historical information and made sure to fly by points of interests on both the right and left sides so everyone could take pictures, if they wished. I am so glad we did the helicopter tour as the first excursion on our trip because it gave us a wonderful overview of the entire island, including the hard to get to interior parts. We had such a better appreciation for the scale of the island once we were on land in Waimea Canyon and hiking along the Na Pali Coast. All too soon our helicopter tour came to an end. We safely landed at the heliport and Blue Hawaiian representatives were there to take our pictures in front of the helicopter. Once side, cool towels were there for our refreshment and we could watch the video taken from our helicopter which was available for purchase. Blue Hawaiian is a first-class company and we wouldn't fly with anyone else on Hawaii!
So gorgeous, one of the highlights of our trip. So glad we did this. It's a great way to see the island and all of its beauty and history!
This is the first time we have ever taken a ride in a helicopter.they picked us up at our hotel . The pilots name was Loren he was very engaging. I asked about Waimia falls and he took us there. He made sure everybody on board got a good sight line to the views
Amazing adventure with Toshi at the controls... Educational, fun, breathtaking scenery. This excursion has it all. Before we were seated (by computer for proper weight distribution), they had a very good safety video and ensured that everyone was prepped for the flight. After reserving, they sent out information on what to bring and what not too, along with directions and a request to check in 45 minutes ahead. Our helicopter was delayed in getting back from Hilo and they made sure we were aware. All around a fantastic experience... Especially with Toshi.
The one must do on our visit was to see lava and that we did and so much more. Took the Big Island Spectacular tour with Dale as our pilot. We were amazed at the islands diversity and its vastness. Saw lots of lava fields, waterfalls, the gorgeous coastline, Waipio Valley and landed right at the base of one of the falls! Definitely a MUST do for anyone visiting.
Took my son up on a Blue Hawaiian tour around the island. Their helicopters are in my opinion the best for tours. Plenty of elbow room even when full. We did a full tour around the island and got to see all the highlights, I wish I could remember the name of our pilot but he did a good job. They've done a good job of hitting all the right places. Definitely worth the price of admission!
If you're going to spend the money for one big Hawaiian adventure this is the one. Forget the whale watching and spend a little more of your hard earned cash on a real vacation treat. Experience waterfalls like never before, catch your breath as the world drops out below you and see the beautiful Hawaiian vistas stretch out below you.
Blue Hawaiian did an amazing job, from start to finish. The facility is clean and organized, the staff was helpful, and the tour was indescribably beautiful. The helicopters are very clean and comfortable, and our pilot, Geoff, was informative and a lot of fun. When you book, ask to sit up front. If you are not able to, request to sit on the "passenger" side in the back--better views. Another reason to sit up front: they film the excursion, so you'll be on camera more, which makes for a fun souvenir if you choose to purchase the DVD. The cameras switch between scenery and the passengers, so you get a mix of your own jaw-dropping expressions along with the views. We did get slightly nauseous, which sounds pretty common, so I would suggest holding off on a big meal until after the flight. Ginger ale or your choice of nausea aids are probably a good idea to have prior to/on hand. I have a tendency to be cold, but was glad I didn't have too many layers on for the ride. I was told being warm is what brings on the nausea, so err on the side of being cooler--its a very comfortable temperature in the air. Plan for about 3 hours--you have a training video, a wait for your helicopter, the hour in the air, and then a wait for your video if you want it. Absolutely go! It was fabulous!
This very well run helicopter tour company gives you a great experience. Every phase of the process is handled well from the discreet weigh in, safety instruction and photo ops after the tour. We flew with Marty and we truly enjoyed his narration and interaction with the passengers. The weather conditions were not ideal but it barely mattered. This was a memorable experience. GO!
Breath taking views!!! Brody was an awesome tour guide. A wonderful way to see the island. Would definitely do it again!
It certainly isn't a cheap activity. The money, however, is well spent. How many time to you get the opportunity to view an island from the air. The views of Na Pali coast were my favorite.
Of the several helicopter tour outfits in Kauai, this one came highly recommended. They use the Eco-Star helicopter which is a modern single turbine model with ample seating, great viewing and air conditioning. The staffing and professional pilots are all first rate. You get to see the entire island and get an educational narrative by the pilot as you fly like a bird to otherwise totally inaccessible areas. They also record your entire trip and offer it for sale at the conclusion of your flight for around $40. The total trip time was just under 1hr. The weather the morning we flew was perfect! Couldn't be better!